“Be in the world but not of it.”
Man’s constant struggle is to keep changing his current state. This need to keep wanting ‘more’ at all times is usually the source of almost all our worries. Nearly all religions and their philosophies are proponents of the belief that a higher power or God has it all planned for us and all the joy and sorrow that comes our way, is all part of a grand plan.
If the grand plan is how things are actually supposed to be, then why go through the misery of constantly fighting against it? Wouldn’t life be better—and happier—if one simply gave in? But what exactly does ‘giving in’ mean? Surely not forgetting to ‘live a life’?
Believing in the Grand Plan contains some of Osho’s most liberating pieces of advice, a thought so radical in its approach that it will make you rethink everything about how you choose to live your life.
“You never escape the effect of your own evil deeds. Be therefore mindful and cease from doing evil.”
Every person on earth has one struggle in common: making decisions in the face of adversity. Whenever a person is faced with a tough choice, there are a lot of factors—both moral and practical—that determine what the person will eventually decide. However, choices come with consequences and not everyone finds themselves equipped to face them.
But what if there was a simple, practical way of ensuring that this struggle and guilt wouldn’t be a problem at all? It could be achieved if only one imbibed some mindfulness in their everyday lives. But what is this mindfulness and how can one gain it?
Read on, as Osho talks about the many virtues and benefits of living mindfully in What Is Mindfulness?, a straightforward guide to living a better life.
In everyday usage, the terms ‘personality’, ‘individuality’, and ‘self’ are used interchangeably. But when examined through the lens of spirituality, they all have very distinct, very different meanings.
According to Buddha’s teachings, a man’s personality is his ego. And it is only after a person learns to shed their ego do they truly begin their spiritual journey. But how does one know where the ego arises from in their life? And once you identify those factors, how do you get rid of them?
In The Ultimate Truth, Osho tries to answer these questions—and more—in his inimitable style of simplicity and wit. Read on.
The ultimate goal of spirituality is nirvana—liberation from the cycle of life and death. However, considering the fast-paced lives we live today, it isn’t easy to move beyond the stress of our everyday lives. How, in that case, does one even begin to tread on the path of spirituality?
According to Osho, one can be spiritual while navigating their everyday life—a belief that is radically different from what many other religions preach.
Read on to discover Osho’s unique take on nirvana and liberation that he distils from some of Buddha’s most important teachings in How to Get Rid of Misery.
“We do a million things not to be alone with ourselves. But truly knowing oneself is indeed a miracle.”
We measure ourselves by the connections we make and the relationships we maintain. At any point in life, a person is someone’s sibling, friend or lover. But as soon as these descriptors are taken away, a person suddenly feels naked, vulnerable or even lost.
It is believed that truly knowing yourself is the first step towards understanding the world around us. But how does one begin that path to understanding?
Read on, as Osho talks about the many ways by which you can truly find yourself and begin a spiritual journey in How to Know Yourself.
“Buddha is the scientist of the inner world—the scientist of religion.”
A spiritual journey usually begins with the search for truth—a higher truth—about the meaning behind our existence and our true purpose. But this journey to enlightenment is hindered by various religions swearing by their own unique interpretation of ‘the answer’.
Buddha, however, believes in a scientific approach to the truth. He uses technical terms and offers clear-cut methods, much like the steps to a scienctific experiment. But what leads a truth-seeker to the right path? Is everyone required to be on the same path? Must we all prepare for the same journey?
In The Path of Buddha, Osho beautifully highlights and synthesizes the two polarities of science and religion with the teachings of Buddha, answering some of the most important spiritual questions.
Books not Borders was a project undertaken in the year 2017 to bring together two cultures sundered by history and joined by an immense shared heritage. This is a heritage of pain and loss, but also one of a mutual emotional palette, the same passion for home and hearth and in the quiet places with ordinary people, a recognition of our mirrored identity. Literature has always been a space that finds common ground in that which was discrete, and this collection of Indian and Pakistani authors have come together to create a conversation of the ordinary people that constitute the hearts and minds of these two nations, in the hope that conversation brings understanding, and understanding plants the seed toward growing peace.
We all know how Hanuman wreaked havoc upon the golden city of Lanka when he visited Sita as Ram’s messenger. But what a lot of us aren’t familar with are the insightful conversations they had then.
From discussing the difference between how Vanaras and Manavas think, to discussing the moralistic details of situations, this discourse between Sita and Hanuman is both unexpected and thought-provoking.
An interesting insight into one of the most popular sections of the epic, the Sundar Kand, Hanuman in Lanka is riveting, enlightening, and entertaining, as all of Devdutt Pattanaik’s writing is.
Ram and Sita’s wedding is a well-recognized visual in India, especially because of how Ram manages to break Shiva’s mighty bow, proving that he was indeed destined to be Sita’s husband. But the beauty of the story lies in its details. It is to be found in the tender moments the couple shared when they first laid their eyes on each other at Vishwamitra’s ashram. It lies in the realization that the union of Ram and Sita, along with the union of Ram’s brothers with Sita’s sisters, has been in the making since the time of Prithu, the first king.
From Parashurama to Tadaka to Ahalya to Ganga, the story of Four Brides for Four Brothers is a fascinating melange of characters and events. And there is no one better to tell that story than Devdutt Pattanaik with his masterful illustrations.
Read on to discover the events that led to the union of two of the most enigmatic characters of Hindu mythology.
For all the action associated with the Ramayana, people sometimes forget how uniquely fascinating the birth of the two protagonists was. While one was discovered in a field that was being ploughed, the other was borne out of a powerful potion. No wonder they went on to achieve greatness.
However, the story of Ram and Sita’s birth isn’t just important because of how they were born. Understanding the context of their birth is equally important because when it comes to epics like the Ramayana, the smallest of details have the most far-reaching impacts.
In The Birth of Ram and Sita, explore the illustrated world of the protagonists before they were born with captivating insights from Devdutt Pattanaik.
